He'd lived long enough to know that everyone handled grief in different ways, and little by little, they all seemed to accept their new lives.

and in that instant, nothing else mattered. Not the song, not the place, not the other couples around him. Only this, only her.

I hope to be remembered as an author who defined and exemplified excellence in crafting the modern love story.

but it wasn't just about my feelings. The more I got to know you, the more I was certain that you'd do whatever it took to provide for your family. That was important to me. You have to understand that back then, a lot of people our age wanted to change the world. Even though it's a noble idea, I knew I wanted something more traditional. I wanted a family like my parents had, and I wanted to concentrate on my little corner of the world. I wanted someone who wanted to marry a wife and a mother, and someone who would respect my choice.

God is the most important thing in our lives. I suppose that's true of everybody's lives, whether or not they want to believe it.

Life passes by now like the scenery outside a car window. I breathe and eat and sleep as I always did, but there seems to be no great purpose in my life that requires active participation on my part...I do not know where I am going or when I will get there.

Proximity bred familiarity, and familiarity bred comfort.